The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1887-01-05
That Donkey.

AT the house of my friend, Mrs.
Brown, there are lot of boys and girls.
The youngest two are twins, about four
years old. They have an elder brother,
Tom. One day last autumn Tom was
standing at the gate, when an emigrant
wagon came in sight; and tagging on
behind it was a big boy with donkey.
Such notwithstanding beast as he
was! So thin and so shakyl 1t seemed
as if he could not move step farther.
The more the boy whipped him, the
more he kept still. AT last, turning to
Tom Brown, the big boy said: " Look
here, fellow, you may have this fine,
brisk donkey for fifty cents. You'll
never have another such bargain offered
you" The idea of getting live dom
key for fifty cents was almost too much
for Tom. "Wait minute" he cried,
and then, rushing into the house, ex-
claimed: go mother, give me fifty
cents and ask no questions. o mother,
do! / can't tell you what it is for, but
do give it to me quickp Mrs. Brown
handed him the money, but as he ran
off with it she followed to see what
was going on. AT the gate she saw the
donkey and the big boy painting with
the effort of beating him, and learned
that Tom wanted the money to buy the
poor beast. Mrs. Brown interposed.
at will never do, Tom" said she.
"That donkey is nothing but skin and
bone and bruises. He will die before
morning, and then you will have dead
donkey on your hands. Give me back
the money" Sadly Tom gave it back,
though his lip quivered and tear came
in his eye; for he felt great pity for the
poor beaten beast. Turning to the big
boy, he said: You see | must give it
up. My mother has taken back the
money" The big boy scratched his
head as if in doubt. Then he made
another effort to urge on the donkey,
but it was in vain; and he said: "Look
here, fellow, Pm bound to have trade
of some sort. Just look at that beast!
Is it speed you want? Look at those
legsl Is it beauty you want? Look at
those ribs! Fellow, do you own such a
thing as a iack-knife?" eyes, a first
rate one; here it's" said Tom. "Wall
I'll not be hard on you," said the big
boy; "you may have the donkey for the
jack-knife." Quick as a flash Tom
hdhuCu MN tlO JdSh-hhIiC, anu tiC DlS
boy placed the rope that held the donkey
in his hands. Mrs. Brown looked from
her window; and there, to her dismay
was the poor donkey limping into the
yard, followed by a troop of shouting
boys. He had been beaten so badly
that | think he must have been very
glad at the change of masters. cob
what an addition to the familyr'
thought Mrs. Brown. But she was an
indulgent mother, and so made the best
of it. The poor beast was well housed
and fed, and rubbed down. In two
months he had grown fat and had i'm.
proved greatly in his looks, while he
was so gentle and good that it was q
pleasure to see him. One day last
month the twins took turns in riding
him, and Tom had never to use the
whip to make him go. Sometimes q
boy would get on his back, while the
donkey drew one of the children on 6
sled He is now a very useful donkey
He evidently thinks he did very bright
thing in refusing to go by Mrs. Browns
gate. He has fallen into good and ten
der hands, and the boys and girls al
have deal of fun out of him. 1t costs
but trihe to feed him; and Ned, as
they call him, is now the happiest don
key west of the Mississippi He seem:
to regard each one of the children az
his dear friend. See how love win,
! love. -Dunlb AnimalS